I used to think cutting my heating bills meant one thing: installing a new heat pump. But after a few winters of testing smarter, cheaper approaches—smart blinds, a few behavioural shifts, and some low-cost draught-proofing—I’ve come to believe you can shave a meaningful chunk off your energy bill without ripping out your boiler. In this piece I’ll share what worked for me, what didn’t,...
When I walk down the streets of my neighbourhood in the UK as winter approaches, I can’t help but think about the...
I often get asked whether an electric vehicle can save the day during a blackout. Having lived through a few power...
When I first started following perovskite solar panels a few years ago, I was excited by the promise: lightweight,...
I’ve been watching community energy projects evolve for years, and one development that keeps catching my attention...
Over the past few years I've had countless conversations with homeowners debating whether to switch from gas or oil...
I’ve been following home energy technology for years, and one question I get more than any other is: how much can a...
When I first started following perovskite solar panels a few years ago, I was excited by the promise: lightweight, potentially cheaper, and rapidly improving efficiency. As the founder and chief author of Energy News, I’ve since spent a lot of time speaking with researchers, installers, product...
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I’ve been watching community energy projects evolve for years, and one development that keeps catching my attention is community-owned batteries. These systems are more than a technical novelty — they’re practical tools councils can use to shave energy costs, stabilise local grids, and create...
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Over the past few years I've had countless conversations with homeowners debating whether to switch from gas or oil boilers to a heat pump — and the conversation has only become more complicated as electricity prices have climbed. As someone who follows energy trends closely at Energy News, I...
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I’ve been following home energy technology for years, and one question I get more than any other is: how much can a home battery actually save you—during a blackout and in everyday use? It’s a great question because the answer depends on a lot of factors: your location, electricity tariffs,...
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When I moved into a Victorian terraced house a few years ago, I quickly realised that charm often comes with a hefty energy bill and a sizeable carbon footprint. These homes are beautiful, but their solid brick walls, single-glazed sash windows and often-draughty chimneys make them inefficient by...
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I’ve been following community solar projects for years, and every time I talk to homeowners or tenants the same questions pop up: can community solar actually cut my household bills? Who truly benefits — the subscribers, developers, or utilities? In this article I’ll walk you through how...
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Upgrading to a hybrid heat pump and gas boiler system can feel like a big step — and rightly so. I recently went through this process for my own home, and I learned that the key to a successful install isn’t just the equipment: it’s the conversation you have with your installer before any...
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I’ve been following household energy choices for years, and one trend I keep returning to is the steady move by UK homeowners away from pure gas boilers towards hybrid heat pump systems. I’ve spoken with installers, read case studies, and seen the data that explain why many people are making...
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Renting shouldn't mean resigning yourself to high energy bills and chilly rooms. Over the years I've negotiated numerous energy-efficient retrofits with landlords — from simple LED upgrades to cavity wall insulation and heat pump installations — and I want to share what worked, what didn't, and...
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After a decade behind the wheel, what actually happens to an EV battery is a question I get asked all the time. People imagine drama — cars stranded on the roadside, batteries melting down, or, on the flip side, perfectly healthy packs languishing in scrapyards. The reality sits somewhere in...
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